A/N: I thought I'd get back to the case in this chapter but they apparently had more stuff to talk about. Thanks for everyone whose been reviewing.

Chapter 14

Eames stirred as the cool air from the window unit flew up her bare spine. She was immediately aware of the fact that she was alone and a brief moment of panic hit her, but then she saw the light peering under the door and heard the domestic sounds of running water coupled with clanking dishes.

She crawled out of bed, quickly finding her panties and slipped on one of Goren's dress shirts.

Quietly, she padded toward the kitchen and found him already in his suit, minus the jacket and tie, which lay on the back of a kitchen chair. He stood at the sink rinsing a coffee mug and glanced over his shoulder at her. He smiled at the sight of his sleeves rolled up five times to hit her wrist and the shirttail swinging past her knees.

"Hi," he said softly and then finished rinsing the mug before placing it in the dish drainer.

"Hi," Eames said as she finished the distance to the kitchen counter.

She hopped up onto the counter next to where he stood. She watched him dry his hands and then she gently grabbed his wrist, tugging him toward her.

Once he was in front of her, she laid her head down on his shoulder and she could tell he was surprised since he briefly tensed. The gesture was simple enough, but it was her white flag and the only way she could think of to let him know that she felt like he did. She may not have been able to speak it, but it was a promise that maybe one day she would.

As he eased, letting her rest against him, he rubbed his hands along her back in gentle circles.

"You…you okay?" he asked.

She nodded and then lifted her head to look up at him. His arms shifted down to her hips and he studied her eyes.

"You sneaking out on me?" she asked with a smirk.

He smiled sheepishly. "I was going to wake you before I left…I…uh…I thought you might want some time to yourself."

She smiled and dropped her head back to his shoulder. She felt exposed and shy, which she really hated, but she still didn't want to leave his apartment. Once one of them opened the front door the reality and complications of her decisions, past and present, would work their way back into their lives. Until now they both tried to ignore the full scope of what they had gotten themselves into, but now the doors were too wide open to go back.

"You know we're not as different as everybody thinks," she said and sat up to see his face. "Neither of us is very good at asking for help…"

He faintly smiled, both knowing that she mainly meant him.

"Or…or feeling vulnerable."

She gave a toothless smile and looked down. "No…I'm not."

"Hey," he said softly, raising his hand to cradle her cheek. "Alex, we can make this work…but I…I meant what I said…I'm not going to rush us into anything—"

"It's a little late to have the let's not rush this talk," Eames teased as she gestured toward her current state of dress.

Goren nodded. "Y-you have a point."

She forced herself to hold his gaze, though she felt as if his dark eyes might bore holes into her with their sincerity.

"You know if we do this, really do this, it has to go both ways," Eames said. "You can't expect me to open up all my baggage if you're not going to do the same."

He nodded, uncomfortably and glanced down.

"I know," he said quietly. "That…uh…that's a conversation I'd rather not have…just before going to work…"

She looked down, not making a good show of hiding her disappointment.

"Later," he said, tipping her chin back up. "A…a lot of the things that I have to say…they aren't pretty—"

"You think last night was pretty for me?" Eames demanded. "Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to forget—"

"Yes! I do. I've…I've spent my whole life trying to forget some things."

"I know you have," she said, her stance softening. "At least I know a little…"

Goren tucked what bits of her bangs he could behind her ear and traced his finger along her cheek.

"I'm…I'm not going to be able to…open all of my baggage in one sitting…"

"Well I generally have most nights free," she said and tightened her arms around his waist.

"Unless you're avoiding me," he smirked.

She smiled despite the sting. "I guess I deserve that."

He looked down at her with a remorseful gaze and then kissed her forehead. She shifted her head back down to his shoulder and closed her eyes, enjoying the smell and feel that surrounded her. She didn't even realize when it had happened: when she stopped seeing him as her quirky partner, but as a wonderfully complicated man.

A faint ring filtered into the air and they both sighed.

"Saved by the text message," Eames said.

Goren pulled away with a small smile and started to fish out her phone from the shoulder bag she left on the kitchen table. He passed it to her and watched her flip it open.

"It's Rogers," Eames said. "She's got a hit on the blood."

"I guess we have a case then."

"Guess so."